Celts Now 4-0 Without Rondo, Top Clippers 106-104

BOSTON (AP) — Paul Pierce scored 22 points and the Boston Celtics held off a late comeback to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 106-104 on Sunday and improve to 4-0 since losing Rajon Rondo for the season.

The Clippers had cut a five-point deficit to 103-101 on a 3-pointer by Eric Bledsoe with 56 seconds remaining. But Avery Bradley drew an offensive foul on Los Angeles’ Jamal Crawford with 26 seconds to go, and Pierce held on to the ball before making a 3-pointer with 2.5 second left to clinch the win.

The teams played without the point guards voted starters in the All-Star game in Houston on Feb. 17 — the Clippers’ Chris Paul and Rondo.